I posted a message about SDI vs. PADI, and have realized that advice given saying that the differences between the instructor's, not SDI vs. PADI, is what matters. My question is... I have completed the "classroom" and pool sessions with my SDI course and am able to go on to my open water dives. I don't feel that anything was taught "thouroughly" at all. I went to the other local dive shop (PADI) and heard an earful on how the other shop is nothing short of neglegent, and that the instructor is banned from several of the local quarries - plus much more negative information. Now, I am reluctant to finish my SDI course. It was suggested that I drop where I am at and take the PADI course - pay again. I feel that this is actually good advice except for the pay again part :06: In trying to feel like I didn't totally waste my money, I asked if I should at least get my SDI referral paperwork and get both certifications - my advice was no, don't bother. Should I just complete my SDI open water and take the PADI advanced open water - should I just drop where I am at and do PADI only - should I get my referral papers and start over with the PADI open water and end up with both certifications??? I am new to this and learning more about the business of it than the diving aspect - not what I was looking for. Any advice would be really appreciated!
Need Advice!
- Thread starter PKeigh
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Don Burke
Contributor
Unfortunately, it is quite common for a shop to badmouth another shop. Much of it is fiction.PKeigh:
It should be very easy to check with the quarries to see if your instructor has actually been banned.
What is it that you think is not being covered properly? What did your instructor say when you asked him about it?
Get your SDI open water, find out if the PADI shop is lying to you, and take your AOW through the shop that lies to you the least.
I would agree, except: Take your referral (confined water and academic work) take the paperwork, pay the new store for a refresher course and finish the open water dives with them.
The first store should refund any money paid for the open water dives (if they are included) and the second store will need to charge you something for a little remedial work and checkout dives, but it shouldnt be excessive, particulalrly when you have your safety and peace of mind in the balance.
Keep us informed how it goes.
The first store should refund any money paid for the open water dives (if they are included) and the second store will need to charge you something for a little remedial work and checkout dives, but it shouldnt be excessive, particulalrly when you have your safety and peace of mind in the balance.
Keep us informed how it goes.
PKeigh:
It is highly unlikely you are going to get a refund on the basis of a competing shop bad-mouthing your shop/instructor. In fact I would stay away from any shop/instructor that displayed such unproffessional conduct. I would finish the SDI course, since you paid for it anyway and if you feel you need further training look at finding a different instructor to proceed but I would stay well away from the shop that bashed your instructor. Read http://www.tdicanada.com/courses/sdi/openwater.pdf
and see if you covered all the material listed. Then decide for yourself if you were adequately trained.
cheers,
The fact with this instructor is there are apparently several pending lawsuits against him - one I know for sure since I know the plaintiff. But they are business related, not diving related lawsuits. So as a character, he isn't really responsible. Our classroom session comprised of him reading all of the answers to the questions we answered at home - little to no discussion, no discussion on dive tables. Our pool session was divided in two, 1.5 to 2 hour sessions - he demonstrated what we should do, we followed one by one - once per topic. Then we were done. As he walked away, I asked the other girl if she knew how to use a compass - she didn't. I asked the instructor's fiancee when he teaches us the computer - at the open water session.
The competing dive store said "he almost seriously injured a student by taking them into water too deep for their qualifications". (hearsay). I asked him when I should worry about the air supply - we didn't discuss the air gauge AT ALL until I asked him - he said it vary's per person. We didn't play or discuss the depth gauge - kinda self explainatory. ---- This is where I'm comming from. Is this typical. If I took an advance open water thur PADI would I gain more confidence? I HATE wasting this money........but it's really important to learn correctly.
The competing dive store said "he almost seriously injured a student by taking them into water too deep for their qualifications". (hearsay). I asked him when I should worry about the air supply - we didn't discuss the air gauge AT ALL until I asked him - he said it vary's per person. We didn't play or discuss the depth gauge - kinda self explainatory. ---- This is where I'm comming from. Is this typical. If I took an advance open water thur PADI would I gain more confidence? I HATE wasting this money........but it's really important to learn correctly.
Don Burke
Contributor
What you are describing is obviously unsatisfactory.PKeigh:
The hearsay is just that. hearsay.
A few items:
- My SSI OW in 1988 did not include teaching the compass.
- I don't know how much teaching you need about a depth gauge other than some items about altitude and fresh water.
- Unless you are in the computer diver course I've been hearing about, computers are probably not part of the curriculum.
If what you have posted is accurate, your options are pretty simple:
1. Wave goodbye to him.
2. See if you can get the shop to intervene.
3. Sue him for specific performance since he is not performing up to the standards of his agency.
4. Sue him for non-performance to get your money back.
Note that 2 and 3 involve having this individual as an instructor. 1 and 4 do not.
Based on what you are relating about his classroom and pool performance, I see no value in retaining this instructor. In the case described, I would just walk.
Be sure you ask around about your next instructor before you sign anything.
ArcticDiver
Contributor
I might have missed something. But I don't see where you have talked with your instructor about your concerns. It isn't fair to the instructor or the student(you) not to have a heart to heart talk.
At this point you seem to be buying into all the negative gossip from a competitor and from a dissatisfied customer. Their comments may, or may not, be justified. You don't really know. That you seem to trust these folks has more to do with personalities than pertinent facts.
So, it seems to me your options begin with a face to face, frank discussion about your concerns. That is if your attitude hasn't been so corrupted that nothing will make you happy with this instructor.
Assuming you can be swayed by the facts you can then decide what to do. Who knows you may even find him to be just what you are after. If on the other hand you are going to have a negative attitude toward the instructor no matter what; then walk now. Don't ask for a refund, remember it is you who are walking, and find someone you can relate to.
At this point you seem to be buying into all the negative gossip from a competitor and from a dissatisfied customer. Their comments may, or may not, be justified. You don't really know. That you seem to trust these folks has more to do with personalities than pertinent facts.
So, it seems to me your options begin with a face to face, frank discussion about your concerns. That is if your attitude hasn't been so corrupted that nothing will make you happy with this instructor.
Assuming you can be swayed by the facts you can then decide what to do. Who knows you may even find him to be just what you are after. If on the other hand you are going to have a negative attitude toward the instructor no matter what; then walk now. Don't ask for a refund, remember it is you who are walking, and find someone you can relate to.
Sideband
Guest
Is there another instructor at the shop that you can switch over to? My LDS has 4 instructors. After helping all of them in the pool I know that some are better than others. I really like the instructor that I had but I don't consider him to be at the top of the list any more. Even at the same shop all instructors are not equal.
Joe
Joe
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